The Devil's Questions- (VA) pre1946 Chase
[From: Songs of all Time- 1946 page 11 and American Folk Tales and Songs- 1956 page 110; both by Richard Chase.
Chase: "It was at one of the folk festivals on White Top Mountain in southwestern Virginia that I first heard this ballad."
This is the standard Virginia text as published in 1946. Although this isn't enough information to verify this version as an authentic traditional version, I'm including it. It was reprinted with music in Evelyn Wells, The Ballad Tree, published in 1950. Chase does not mention Barker's version (recorded in 1941) which may also have been learned by Barker from Chase.
Chase became involved with The White Top Folk Festival in 1934 and, according to Wisnant, become one of the organizers in 1937. It's likely his version was taken from this unknown singer during or after 1934 but before 1941. It's also possible the version was not traditional. Chase probably taught it to Horton Barker or learned it with Barker, during that time.
In his 1956 book, American Folktales and Songs, Chase changed the refrain to:
Refrain: Sing ninety-nine and ninety
And the crow flies over the white oak tree.
Edmunds commented in 1985 (English Riddle Ballads) that this was probably a personal adaptation.
R. Matteson Jr. 2011]
The Devil's Questions- (VA) pre1954 Chase
1. If you can't answer my questions nine,
Sing ninety nine and ninety,
Oh, then you're not God's, you're one of mine,
And you're not the weaver's bonny.
2 Oh what is higher than the tree?
Sing ninety nine and ninety,
And what is deeper than the sea?
And you're not the weaver's bonny.
3 Oh heaven is higher than the tree,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
And love is deeper than the sea,
And I am the weaver's bonny.
4 Oh what is louder than the horn?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is sharper than the thorn?
And you're not the weaver's bonny.
5 Oh thunder is louder than the horn,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
And hunger's sharper than the thorn
And I am the weaver's bonny.
6 Oh what is whiter than the milk?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is finer than the silk?
And you're not the weaver's bonny.
7 Oh snow is whiter than the milk,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
And down is softer than the silk,
And I am the weaver's bonny.
8 Oh what is heavier than the lead?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is better than the bread?
And you're not the weaver's bonny.
9 Oh grief is heavier than the lead.
Sing ninety-nine and ninety.
God's blessing's better than the bread.
And I am the weaver's bonny.
10 Now you have answered my questions nine,
Sing ninety nine and ninety,
Oh you are God's, you're none of mine.
And you are the weaver's bonny.